Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Hump, actually. I have what is known as a Gangleon Cyst, and it hurts like hell.

This type of condition is a small pocket of fluid, located in the lining of a joint. Most commonly on the wrist, or fingers. The cause isn't known, but it is generally considered to be made worse by use.

It isn't news, I've had it for a while. Years, actually. I first started developing it after I first started working on chain mail, and since then over the years every hobby I started that used my wrist had the effect of cultivating it like a little fleshy bonzai tree.

It is on the back of my right wrist, on a 27 year old male, and is about 2 cm in diameter. All of this is not unusual. What is unusual is how much it hurts me. That's new, starting in the last couple of weeks. Apparently in a small number of cases it can put a strong pressure on the nerves around that area, and cause a great deal of pain. Lucky me.

It's been coming and going for ever, but before now all it did before was limit my mobility a bit and it was somewhat uncomfortable. They are sometimes called 'Bible Cysts' because of the traditional treatment - Smash it with the biggest book you can find. I have previously indulged in this quasi-folksy treatment and it does work, although the momentary pain can fairly be compared with your soul being forcibly removed from your still-living bones.

Problem is it always comes back. After extensive research I have decided to seek professional medical attention. So I went to a clinic, and the doctor made me an appointment with a plastic surgeon. I go under the knife in probably around 3 months, if I'm lucky.

Most likely they will simply drain the fluid and replace it with a tiny amount of a corticosteroid, but if the doctor decides it's more serious he can open me up and remove it surgically.

Of course I forgot to ask the big questions, like "So I guess I shouldn't keep popping it so that the surgeon has something to work on, right?" and "Is it O.K. to work out if I put it in a splint?". But 90 minutes in a walk in clinic waiting room followed by 25 in a cold examination room turns any mind to cheese.

Good times.

iRob

“I got the bill for my surgery. Now I know what those doctors were wearing masks for.” -James H. Boren

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

With the imminent death of my car on the horizon, I've been checking out other options. Tonight I amused myself by taking a test drive in a car I have no intention of buying any time soon. I didn't count on falling in love.

It was hard, but I managed to talk myself out of buying it then and there. The fact that they were unlikely to take my car as a trade in for the entire purchace price of the Civic probably played a part in my decision.

It seems strange now these years later that I am so anxious to replace my Saturn. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was very much into it. I used to follow all of the Saturn designs. It says something to me that they came out with an entirely new line of car that I never noticed until I saw one on the street.

Sigh. I need a new job. One that pays.

-iRob

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, for there are plenty of others."-Otto Rank

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Got to try Haggis for the first time. It wasn't too bad until Jenn pointed out the striking resemblance to cat food. That put me off it a bit. She had a point though. For anyone who doesn't know, Haggis is a sheeps heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with oatmeal and spices, and then boiled in the sheeps stomach for about an hour. Mmm.

Jenn voiced the question that for those who take these events extremely seriously and devote a large amount of time and energy into training for them, do they start to view objects in terms of weight? After all, if all you have is a hammer...

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

When I am walking in a strong wind, (such as there was today), my ears make noise. They stick out from my head just enough that if I am walking directly into the wind, I hear a loud 'whoosh' noise as the air rattles around my head.

If I turn my head to the right or left far enough, so that one ear is facing the wind, and one ear is sheltered, it doesn't happen. That's how I know that it's my ears making the noise. It changes the angle enough that the wind hits my ear and stops, but doesn't run past it and sound like a waterfall.

They are somewhat normal ears, one on each side and aproximately the same shape. They don't get a lot of comments. Therefore I'm forced to assume that other people's ears make a 'whoosh' sound in the wind as well.

Do your ears go 'whoosh'?

-iRob

"And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."- The Bible

EDIT: I worry about a mind that can think thoughts like this one. I'm really tired.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

So with us going home to see Pirates tomorrow in costume with many a friend, it occured to me recently that it would probably be good if I had one. (Costume, not Pirate. Although that would be cool too!)

Who would have thought that one day wouldn't be enough to come up with a stellar Captain Jack costume? Well, I thought that, but I decided to chance it anyway. I'll have to give up on accurate and go for creative. Maybe I'll have to do a different Cap'n. Hmm. Maybe not.

Tell you what - If this show is as good as the first one I'll commit to a decent costume. One I can wear for Haloween, and to the premeire of P-III: Rise of the Crossbones. If I start as soon as the movie lets out tomorrow I can have something kick-ass before Oct 31.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

I've always liked office supplies, even when I was little. I thought that paperclips, staples, binders, pens, whiteboards, etc. were pretty cool, even before I was old enough to really understand why they existed. Of course back then the paperclips existed to make cool chains and the whiteboards were for happy faces.

I've joined the rest of the working world: I finally have a desk job that requires paperwork. It has been something that I have been able to avoid up until now. For anyone who doesn't know me let's play a game. Out of these jobs I once held, point to the one I do now. Hint: "Paperwork".

Jem Cutter

McDonalds Cashier

Armourer

Call center worker

Dental Tech

HR Records Administration Specialist

That's right. I now have a huge box filled with clips, pens, whiteout, staples, folders, files, markers, post-its, etc. and they bring me less joy than they ever have before. I even have a person who works at my office, and as far as I can tell her job is to say "O.K. here you go." to the question "Hi, can I have some (insert office supply here)?" So I have unlimited free access to toys.

But they aren't toys anymore. I actually use them for actual boring work. My alligator clips hold my audit sheets together, and I need to use whiteout to correct forms. My files are full of well, files, and I think my binders all have T.P.S. reports in them. They have come to be associated with boredom and pain, and I don't think that can change back.

Anyone else have a little piece of their childhood die because of their job?

After several months of failing to update my old blog regularly, I am trying something new. I am hoping that the ease of use of this new place will balance nicely with my slothlike tendancies, and after consulting a good friend who appears quite happy with his blog, I have made the leap.

This is "iRob V2" instead of "iRob" for two reasons - One, it is my second attempt at a blog, and two - I'm apparently neither as cute nor original as I had originally thought. There are many other 'iRob' blogs out there, but I assure you that I am the real deal. Although I was amazed to find that I exist on Google - If you google 'iRob blog' you arrive at yours truly. Accept no substitutes.

I also believe that I may be able to update this site from my work email, my home computer, my cell phone, my digital watch, a geiger counter, what have you. Since before now my updates required my home computer and too much time, that will hopefully contribute to my productivity. I'm aiming for 3 times the posting and 1/6th the content.

If any of you wish to see my old blog, go here, as I will not be copying it over. Life is too short. However get it while you can, as I don't guarantee I will keep it up for long.

I'm bored. That means my entry is complete.

-iRob

"From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend on reading it."Groucho Marx